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Summer is finally upon us and the kids are just as excited to be outside playing as we are! What about our kids though who are not confident free players? What about our students who are shy to join in a game? Take a look around your classroom, school and community to see how you are reaching all kids! Here are a few things to look for and incorporate.

1. Outdoor Equipment at the School

It is important to look at what kinds of equipment are available for kids to play with. Many...

As teachers we know what it is like to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life. I too find myself having to slow down and re-evaluate what I’m doing in my school life and my personal life. I have had a lot of people say “I have just not had the time lately do physical activity in my classroom.” Between report cards
, discipline
issues, planning, marking...

One of the biggest hesitations that teachers have to getting their students up and moving seems to be that the students get so wound up that they have trouble calming back down and starting to work again. Some students definitely need more time or instruction on how to transition from movement time to work time, however the benefits of being active throughout the day are crucial to student’s attention and learning.

One of the many routines that we teach our students every year is how to walk properly through the hallways. Students need to make sure that they are keeping their hands to themselves and not disrupting any other classes. I think this is an important skill to teach students but can sometimes be an ongoing battle.

I teach my students the reasons we need to walk quietly in the hallways, especially if you...

I hope everyone has been reading and using lots of the great resources which have been provided on the blog. Many teachers have been asking for more resources and energizers. This week I will provide two resources that can be used in your
classroom as well as a fun
and easy to follow energizer
.

When I began my journey
of turning my classroom
into an environment which
encouraged
movement, one of the first things I explored was exercise equipment. I had spoken with other teachers who had encouraged me to
read the book
“Spark” by
John Ratey
and also
speak with a teacher by the name of Allison Cameron who at the time taught at City
Park Collegiate in Saskatoon.

SPEA is a provincial non-profit incorporated organization that provides quality leadership, advocacy and resources for professionals in physical and health education to positively influence the lifestyles of Saskatchewan's children and youth. The mission is to promote and support active healthy lifestyles through the development of physical education, recreation and sport at all levels of the educational system.

SPEA is a great resource and support not only for teachers who are physical...

If you are like most teachers out there you dread when the announcements come on and it’s going to be an inside recess. This happens more often in the winter time when the temperature is just too cold to be outside or when it’s raining. Why do we all despise indoor recess so much? When asking teachers, their answers included “the students just have too much energy all day” and “I feel like I am doing so much disciplining during recess time because students are doing things they’re not...

As you look at getting started or adding onto what you already do in your classroom here are some tips for success.

1. Be Proactive and Plan! As teachers we know if we do not plan for a subject it usually does not get done or it does not get done very well. Write what you plan to do for movement right into your day plan. I have attached a copy of a sample day plan which shows when I do minutes of movement. Even if it’s something as simple as following along to a dance...

Welcome to Jolly Thoughts! My name is Samantha Jolly and I am a grade 5 Teacher at Pre Cam Community School in La Ronge, Saskatchewan. I received my Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Family Studies and minor in English from the University of Western Ontario. I then obtained my Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Windsor. I have been an elementary school teacher for the past 6 years.

Why? By definition “generalist” means a person who is knowledgeable in many fields...